Liquid crystal display device

ABSTRACT

An object of the invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device having a so-called direct backlight where the interval between a number of rod light sources can be reduced, as well as a liquid crystal display device where the liquid crystal display panel and the backlight can be provided close to each other and the thickness of the module can be reduced. The liquid crystal display device is provided with a liquid crystal display panel and a backlight provided on the rear surface of this liquid crystal display panel, and the above described backlight is provided with a number of rod light sources aligned in a plane which faces said liquid crystal display panel and electrode supports for supporting the electrodes of the rod light sources on the same pole, which are provided on the same side of the rod light sources, together. The above-described electrode supporting the electrodes on the same pole together are formed of at least a separate first electrode support and second electrode support. The first electrode support and the second electrode support are respectively formed by press processing a metal plate and provided with electrode fixtures for sandwiching the electrodes of the number of rod light sources and en electrode linking body for linking these electrode fixtures together. The metal fixtures of the first electrode support and the metal fixtures of the second electrode support alternate in the direction in which said rod light sources are aligned.

This application is a Divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/232,859filed Sep. 25, 2008. Priority is claimed based on of U.S. applicationSer. No. 12/232,859 filed Sep. 25, 2008, which claims the priority dateof Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-250666 filed Sep. 27, 2007, thecontents of which are hereby incorporated into this application byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device and, inparticular, to a liquid crystal display device having a so-called directbacklight.

(2) Related Art Statement

So-called direct backlights are used in liquid crystal display devicesfor large-scale liquid crystal display panels.

The light source used as a backlight is a rod light source, such as coldcathode fluorescent lamps (CCFL) or external electrode fluorescent lamps(EEFL), or a dot light source, such as LED's.

From among these, EEFL's have increasingly been used, becausefluorescent lamps to be controlled are aligned and thus easy toassemble.

Concretely, a number of EEFL's; that is, fluorescent lamps, areuniformly provided in parallel in a plane facing a liquid crystaldisplay panel, and these fluorescent lamps are supported by a base(lower frame) in a housing where a reflective sheet is provided on theinner surface via electrode supports.

The electrode supports are formed as pairs: one on either side of thebase, on the short sides.

These electrode supports are provided integrally with at least a numberof electrode fixtures, each of which pinches an electrode of one EEFLand an electrode connecting body for connecting and supporting theseelectrode fixtures, and formed by press processing a metal plate.

That is to say, the electrode fixtures are formed of a branched memberfor pressing the facing sides of each electrode of the EEFL, by cuttingout an electrode fixture from a metal plate in plane form together withthe above described electrode connecting body, and at the same time,bending the above descried electrode fixture up from the above describedelectrode connecting body.

A liquid crystal display device having such a configuration is disclosedin the following Patent Document 1, for example.

(Patent Document 1) Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication 2005-347259(Corresponding U.S. Application US2005/0265047 A1)

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Disclosure of the Invention Problem to beSolved by the Invention

In liquid crystal display devices having this configuration, it has beendesired for the interval between a number of rod light sources which arealigned to be smaller.

When a number of rod light sources are aligned with small intervals,light can be made uniform in a plane slightly at a distance and parallelto a plane including the rod light sources, and a liquid crystal displaypanel can be placed in the above described plane, where light isuniform.

As a result, the liquid crystal display panel and the backlight(specifically, rod light sources) can be provided close to each other,and thus, the thickness of the module can be reduced.

The above described electrode supports for supporting the number ofEFL's are formed by press processing one metal plate. In order to formmetal fixtures for sandwiching electrodes of EEFL's having a sufficientheight on the surface of the metal plate in plane form, it is necessaryfor there to be a certain interval between the metal fixtures.

Thus, a certain distance must be secured between the metal fixturesformed adjacent to each other as described above, and there isdifficulty in reducing the interval between a number of rod lightsources.

An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystaldisplay device having a so-called direct backlight where a number of rodlight sources can be provided at small intervals.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystaldisplay device where the liquid crystal display panel and the backlightcan be provided close to each other, so that the thickness of the modulecan be reduced.

Means for Solving Problem

The gist of typical inventions from among the inventions disclosed inthe present specification is briefly described below.

(1) The liquid crystal display device according to the present inventionis provided with a liquid crystal display panel and a backlight providedon the rear surface of this liquid crystal display panel, for example,and characterized in that the above described backlight comprises anumber of rod light sources installed in parallel, and electrodesupports for supporting electrodes of the number of rod light sourcestogether, the above described electrode supports are formed of aseparate first electrode support and second electrode support, the abovedescribed first electrode support and the above described secondelectrode support are respectively formed of a number of electrodeconnecting bodies parallel to the longitudinal direction of theelectrodes of the above described rod light source, and a number ofelectrode fixtures for sandwiching the electrodes of the above describedrod light source provided in each electrode connecting body, and theelectrode connecting bodies of the above described first electrodesupport and the electrode connecting bodies of the above describedsecond electrode support alternate in the direction perpendicular to thelongitudinal direction of the above described rod light sources.

(2) The liquid crystal display device according to the present inventionis provided with a liquid crystal display panel and a backlight providedon the rear surface of this liquid crystal display panel, for example,and characterized in that the above described backlight comprises anumber of rod light sources installed in parallel, and electrodesupports for supporting electrodes of the number of rod light sourcestogether, the above described electrode supports are provided with afirst electrode linking body, a second electrode linking body and athird electrode linking body which extend in the direction in which theabove described rod light sources are aligned and are aligned inparallel, and a number of electrode connecting bodies formed so as to beparallel to each other in the direction of the length of the abovedescribed rod light sources between the above described first electrodelinking body and the above described second electrode body, as well asbetween the above described second electrode linking body and the abovedescribed third electrode linking body, each electrode connecting bodyis formed of a number of electrode fixtures for sandwiching anelectrode, and electrode connecting bodies between the above describedfirst electrode linking body and the above described second electrodelinking body, as well as electrode connecting bodies between the abovedescribed second electrode linking bodies and the above described thirdelectrode linking bodies, alternate in the direction perpendicular tothe longitudinal direction of the above described rod light sources.

(3) The liquid crystal display device is provided with a liquid crystaldisplay panel and a backlight provided on the rear surface of thisliquid crystal display panel, for example, and characterized in that theabove described backlight comprises a number of rod light sourcesinstalled in parallel, and electrode supports for supporting electrodesof the number of rod light sources together, the above describedelectrode supports are formed so as to comprise a number of electrodeconnecting bodies formed in parallel to the direction of the length ofthe electrodes of the above described rod light sources, and a number ofelectrode fixtures for sandwiching the electrodes of the above describedrod light sources provided to respective electrode connecting bodies,the above described electrode fixtures are formed on the above describedelectrode connecting bodies so as to be parallel in the longitudinaldirection of the above described rod light sources, and the abovedescribed number of electrode fixtures alternate with a number ofelectrode fixtures on an adjacent electrode connecting body in thedirection perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the abovedescribed light sources.

Here, the present invention is not limited to the above describedconfiguration, and various modifications are possible, as long as thetechnical idea of the present invention is not deviated from.

Effects of the Invention

In the liquid crystal display device formed as described above, itbecomes possible to form a so-called direct backlight where the intervalbetween a number of rod light sources is reduced.

In the liquid crystal display device formed as described above, itbecomes possible to provide a liquid crystal display panel and abacklight close to each other, so that the thickness of the module canbe reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are a is a diagram showing the configuration of theelectrode support used in the liquid crystal display device according toone embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of theliquid crystal display device according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional diagram showing the configuration of theliquid crystal display device, which is a module, according to thepresent invention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are a diagram showing the configuration of the backlightin the liquid crystal display device according to one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are a diagram showing an example of the configuration ofan electrode support used in conventional liquid crystal displaydevices, and illustrating the disadvantage thereof;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are a diagram illustrating the effects of the electrodesupport used in the liquid crystal display according to one embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a modification of the electrode support usedin the liquid crystal display according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are a diagram showing the configuration of the electrodesupport used in the liquid crystal display device according to anotherembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the configuration of the electrode supportused in the liquid crystal display device according to anotherembodiment of the present invention.

EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS

-   PNL . . . liquid crystal display panel-   OS . . . optical sheet-   BL . . . backlight-   SUB1, SUB2 . . . substrates-   SCD . . . semiconductor device-   PCB1, PCB2 . . . printed circuit boards-   DFR . . . lower frame-   RS . . . reflective sheet-   BWh . . . side wall plate-   EFL . . . external electrode fluorescent lamps-   CC . . . notches-   MFR . . . middle frame-   UFR upper frame-   TMT . . . electrode base-   SC . . . screws-   TMS, TMSa, TMSb . . . electrode supports-   TJCa, TJCb, TJCc . . . electrode linking bodies-   TCNa, TCNb . . . electrode connecting bodies-   TMF, TMFa1, TMFa2, TMFa3, TMFb1, TMFb2, TMFb3 . . . electrode    fixtures-   WBa, WBb . . . wide portions-   TN . . . electrode sandwiching portion-   TI . . . electrode inserting portion-   PJB . . . protruding plate-   CLT1, CLT2 unwoven cloth

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Best Mode for Carrying Out theInvention

In the following, the embodiments of the liquid crystal display deviceaccording to the present invention are described in reference to thedrawings.

<Configuration of Entirety>

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of theliquid crystal display device according to one embodiment of the presentinvention.

First, a liquid crystal display panel PNL, an optical sheet OS and abacklight BL are provided in this order from the viewer side.

The liquid crystal display panel PNL has a pair of parallel substratesSUB1 and SUB2 made of glass, for example, as outside walls, and liquidcrystal intervenes between these substrates SUB1 and SUB2 in theconfiguration.

Pixels (not shown) arranged in a matrix are formed on the surface of theabove described substrates SUB1 and SUB2 on the liquid crystal side withthe above described liquid crystal as one component, and these pixelscan control the light transmittance of the liquid crystal.

In addition, the region where these pixels are formed is a liquidcrystal display region AR (region surrounded by frame of single-dotchain line), and the entirety of the liquid crystal display region AR isirradiated with light from the below described backlight BL, so that theviewer sees an image through light that transmits through the respectivepixels.

The substrate SUB1 on the rear of the display from the viewer's point ofview has portions exposed from the substrate SUB2 on the left side andthe upper side in the figure, so that one side of a number ofsemiconductor devices SCD can be connected through these portions. Thesemiconductor devices SCD are formed of so-called tape carrier typesemiconductor devices, where semiconductor chips CH are mounted on theupper surface of flexible substrates FB on which wires are formed.

These semiconductor devices SCD are formed of circuits for individuallydriving the respective pixels described above. Printed circuit boardsPCB1 and PCB2 are connected to the second side, which faces the firstside, to which the above described substrate SUB1 is connected areconnected to semiconductor devices SCD aligned in the direction x in thefigure from among the respective semiconductor devices SCD (video signaldriving circuits), so that an external input signal can be inputted viathe printed circuit board PCB1 the liquid crystal display device in thepresent embodiment is large-scale, and two printed circuit boards PCB1and PCB2 are formed side-by-side, for example.

In addition, semiconductor devices SCD aligned in the direction y in thefigure from among the above described semiconductor devices SCD(scanning signal driving circuits) allow an external input signal to beinputted via wires (not shown) formed on the surface of the substrateSUB1, and therefore, printed circuit boards which correspond to theabove described printed circuit boards PCB1 and PCB2 are not connectedin the configuration.

In addition, a backlight BL is provided on the rear surface of theliquid crystal display panel PNL via an optical sheet OS, for example adiffusion sheet, a prism sheet or a multilayer body of these. Theoptical sheet OS leads light from the backlight BL to the liquid crystaldisplay panel PNL side through diffusion or condensation.

The backlight BL is referred to as direct backlight, and has a number ofexternal electrode fluorescent lamps EFL of which the longitudinaldirection coincides with the direction x in the figure in a planeparallel to the liquid crystal display panel PNL, and which are alignedin the direction y in the figure, and these external electrodefluorescent lamps EFL are supported by the lower frame DFR (see FIG. 3)in box form formed of a metal, for example.

A reflective sheet RS is mounted on the surface of the lower frame DFR,and the upper and lower side portions of this reflective sheet RS, whichextend in the direction x in the figure, are bent, so that a side wallsurface BW (see FIG. 3) is formed around the raised periphery.

Here, a side wall plate BWh made of a resin material, for example, isprovided in the right and left side portions of the lower frame DFR,which extend in the direction y in the figure, so as to have an inclinedsurface with the edges raised and cover the electrodes at the two endsof the above described external electrode fluorescent lamps EFL. In thisside wall plate BWh, notches CC are created, in order to avoidinterference with the respective external electrode fluorescent lampsEFL on the lower side.

This side wall plate BWh has a function of reflecting light from thesurface on the above described liquid crystal display panel PNL side,and forms a substantial side wall portion of the back light BL, togetherwith the side wall surface BW of the above described reflective sheetRS. The configuration of the back light BL is described in furtherdetail below.

<Configuration of Module>

In addition, the liquid crystal display panel PNL, the optical sheet OSand the backlight BL are contained by the upper frame UFR and the middleframe MFR, which are respectively secured to the above described lowerframe DFR, as shown in FIG. 3, and these frames form a liquid crystaldisplay device as a module. Here, FIG. 3 is a cross sectional diagramshowing the portion along line III-III in FIG. 2.

The upper frame UFR has an opening OP for exposing at least the liquidcrystal display region AR of the liquid crystal display panel PNL on theviewer side.

Here, the semiconductor devices SCD connected to the substrate SUB1 ofthe liquid crystal display panel PNL are provided so as to be bent inthe portions of the flexible substrates FB, so that the side connectedto the printed circuit boards PCB1 and PCB2 is perpendicular to thesemiconductor devices. This is in order to make the width of the frameof the liquid crystal display device smaller.

<Backlight BL>

FIG. 4A is a diagram showing only the above described backlight BL shownin FIG. 2, and FIG. 4B is a diagram showing the backlight BL shown inFIG. 4A in a state with the above described side wall plate BWh removed.

The side wall plates BWh are made of a resin material, for example, andprovided in the right and left side portions of the lower frame DFR,which extend in the direction y, so as to cover the electrodes of theabove described external electrode fluorescent lamps EFL at the two endsand be inclined with the edges raised, as described above.

The side wall plates BWh are provided so as to overlap with therespective electrode bases TMT secured to the lower frame DFR and madeof a resin material, for example (see FIG. 4B), and secured with screws,for example, not shown.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 4B, the electrode supports TMS provided onthe surface of the electrode bases TFT are exposed when the side platesBWh are removed from the electrode bases TMT.

The left electrode support TMS in the figure is formed so as to have anumber of electrode fixtures TMF for supporting and electricallyconnecting the respective electrodes of a number of external electrodefluorescent lamps EFL aligned on the left in the figure, for example,and in addition, the electrode support TMS on the right in the figure isformed so as to have a number of electrode fixtures for supporting andelectrically connecting the electrodes of the above described number ofexternal electrode fluorescent lamps EFL on the right in the figure. THEelectrode supports TMS are formed through press processing, togetherwith the electrode fixtures TMF.

Power is supplied to the electrodes of the respective external electrodefluorescent lamps EFL on the left in the figure through the electrodesupports TMS on the left in the figure, and power is supplied to theelectrodes to the right in the figure through the electrode support TMSon the right in the figure.

The electrode support TMS is secured to the above described electrodebase TMT using a screw SC at one end on the lower side in the figure inthe longitudinal direction, for example. The electrode support TMT issecured only at one end of the electrode support TMS in the longitudinaldirection, in order to prevent the electrode support TMS from bendingand lifting off electrode base TFT due to thermal expansion.

Incidentally, in the case where the side wall plate BWh is secured tothe electrode base TMT, the above described electrode support TMS islightly pressed against the electrode support TMT by a number ofprotruding plates PJB (not shown, see FIGS. 6A and 6B) formed on thesurface of the side wall plate BWh on the side which faces the electrodesupport TMS in the longitudinal direction of the electrode support TMSat certain intervals.

The above described electrode support TM has a simple pattern and is inplate form in FIGS. 4A and 4B, and a number of external electrodefluorescent lamps EFL can be aligned with smaller intervals by providingthe below configuration, and thus, a greater number of externalelectrode fluorescent lamps EFL than in the prior art can be provided.

<Electrode Support TMS>

FIG. 1A is a plan diagram showing the above described electrode TMSaccording to one embodiment, and an enlargement of the portion withinthe dotted line frame Q in FIG. 4B.

FIG. 1A shows a typical electrode support TMS provided on the left sideof the black light BL shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, and accordingly, theelectrode support TMS provided on the right side in the figure also hasthe same configuration, except that left and right are reversed. Inaddition, FIG. 1A clearly shows an external electrode fluorescent lampEFL with dotted lines and the positional relationship between thisexternal electrode fluorescent lamp EFL and the electrode support TMS.

In FIG. 1A, the above described electrode support TMS is formed ofseparate electrode supports TMSa and TMSb. That is to say, the electrodesupports TMSa and TMSb are manufactured separately and provided on theupper surface of the above described electrode base TMT (not shown) soas to have the positional relationship shown below. Here, in thisspecification, the electrode support TMSa is in some cases referred toas first electrode support, and the electrode support TMSb is in somecases referred to as second electrode support.

In addition, the electrode supports TMSa and TMSb are formed togetherwith the below described electrode fixtures TMF, by press processing ametal plate.

First, the electrode support TMSa has an electrode linking body TJCawhich extends in the longitudinal direction of the above describedelectrode base TMT (not shown) (direction y in figure).

A number of electrode fixtures TMF for sandwiching one electrode for theexternal electrode fluorescent lamp EFL are connected to the electrodeconnecting body TJCa.

Three electrode fixtures TMF (for example those shown by the symbolsTMFa1, TMFa2 and TMFa3 in the figure) are provided for the sameelectrode of the external electrode fluorescent lamp EFL, and aligned atequal intervals in the longitudinal direction of the electrodes, so thatreliable electrical connection can be made with the electrodes. Inaddition, the three electrode fixtures TMF are respectively connected tothe electrode connecting bodies TCNa in the configuration.

That is to say, the above described electrode connecting bodies TCNa areformed so as to be directed toward the center of the backlight BLrelative to the above described electrode linking body TJCa and extendin the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of theelectrode linking body TJCa (direction x in figure), and provided atequal intervals (for example P) in the longitudinal direction of thebase support.

Here, the respective electrode fixtures TMF formed in the respectiveelectrode connecting bodies TCNa provided in parallel to the direction yin the figure in such a positional relationship that the respectiveelectrode fixtures TMF corresponding to the electrode fixtures denotedby the symbol TMFa 1, the respective electrode fixtures TMFcorresponding to the electrode fixtures denoted by the symbol TMFa2 andthe respective electrode fixtures TMF corresponding to the electrodefixtures denoted by the symbol TMFa3 are aligned in lines in thedirection y, without shifting in the direction x in the figure, in thisembodiment.

However, the invention is not limited to this, and the respectiveelectrode fixtures TMF corresponding to electrode fixtures denoted bythe same symbol may have such a positional relationship as to be alignedin the direction y with a slight shift in the direction x in the figure.

The respective electrode fixtures TMF are formed of forked members whichrise from the two sides of the electrode connecting body CTNa, as shownin the cross sectional diagram along line b-b in FIG. 1A, and formed ofelectrode holding portions TN in arc form for pressing the sides of theelectrodes of the above described external electrode fluorescent lampsEFL (indicated by dotted line in figure) and electrode insertingopenings TI which spread outward from the electrode holding portions TNand make insertion of the above described external electrode fluorescentlamps EFL easy.

In addition, wide portions WBa having a portion which extends in thedirection perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the electrodeconnecting bodies TCNa from each side are formed in extending ends ofthe electrode connecting bodies TCNa, where the electrode fixtures TMFare formed on the side opposite to the above described electrode linkingbodies TJCa. The function of these wide portions WBa are described indetail below in reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B.

In addition, the electrode support TMSb has an electrode linking bodyTJCb which extends in the direction of the longitudinal direction of theabove described electrode base TMT (not shown) (direction y in figure),and the electrode linking body TJCb is provided on the right of theabove described electrode support TMSa in the figure, that is to say, atthe center of the backlight BL.

The electrode linking body TJCb is formed integrally with the electrodeconnecting body TCNb, where the electrode fixture TMF is formed. Theelectrode connecting bodies TCNb are formed so as to be directed to theleft of the electrode linking body TJCb in the figure, that is to say,to the side opposite to the center of the backlight BL, and extend inthe direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of theelectrode connecting body TJCb (direction x in figure), and provided atequal intervals (for example P) in the longitudinal direction of theelectrode connecting body TJCb.

In this case, the electrode connecting bodies TCNb of the electrodesupports TMSb are respectively located between the electrode connectingbodies TCNa adjacent to the above described electrode supports TMSa, andare in such a relationship as to interlock with the electrode connectingbodies TCNa of the above described electrode supports TMSa.

In addition, in each of the above described electrode connecting bodiesTCNa, three electrode fixtures (denoted by symbols TMFb1, TMFb2 andTMFb3 in figure) are formed at equal intervals in the direction in whichthe electrode connecting bodies TCNb extend from the above describedelectrode connecting bodies TJCa. The respective electrode metals TNFhave the same configuration as the electrode fixtures TMF of the abovedescribed electrode supports TMSa, and thus, have the same configurationas shown in FIG. 1B.

In addition, wide portions WBb having an extending portion from eachside in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of theelectrode connecting body TCNb are formed in the end portion of theelectrode connecting bodies TCNb of the electrode support TMSb, as inthe end portion of the electrode connecting bodies TCNa of the abovedescribed electrode support TMSa. The function of these wide portionsWBb is described in detail below in reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B,together with the function of the above described wide portions WBa ofthe above described electrode support TMSa.

Here, the electrode fixtures TMF respectively formed in the electrodeconnecting bodies TCNb provided in parallel to the direction y in thefigure are in such a positional relationship that the respectiveelectrode fixtures TMF corresponding to the electrode fixtures denotedby the symbol TMFb1, the respective electrode fixtures TMF correspondingto the electrode fixtures denoted by the symbol TMFb2 and the respectiveelectrode fixtures TMF corresponding to the electrode fixtures denotedby the symbol TMFb3 are aligned in lines in the direction y, withoutshifting in the direction x in the figure, in this embodiment.

However, the invention is not limited to this, and the respectiveelectrode fixtures TMF corresponding to electrode fixtures denoted bythe same symbol may have such a positional relationship as to be alignedin the direction y with a slight shift in the direction x in the figurein other embodiments.

<Effects of Present Embodiment>

The thus formed electrode supports TMS allow the electrode connectingbodies TCNa and TCNb which are respectively combined with the electrodesupports TMSa and TMSb for use to be provided with small intervals ofP/2. Thus, a number of external electrode fluorescent lamps EFL can beprovided with small intervals, and more external electrode fluorescentlamps EFL can be provided than in the prior art.

Here, in the case where the above described electrode supports TMS areformed of one electrode support: the electrode support TMSa or theelectrode support TMSb, the lower limit for the intervals is P, forexample, even when the intervals of the electrode connecting bodies TNSare reduced in the configuration. In other words, there is a limit inthe intervals between the respective electrode connecting bodies TCN,and the intervals cannot be reduced more than a certain amount (forexample to P or less).

That is to say, FIG. 5A is a plan diagram showing an example of theconfiguration of a conventional electrode support TMS′.

This electrode support TMS′ can be formed by press processing a metalplate, as with the electrode supports TMSa and TMSb shown in FIGS. 1Aand 1B.

The electrode supports TMS′ first have a pair of electrode linkingbodies TJCa′ and TJCb′ provided in parallel which extend in thelongitudinal direction of the electrode support (not shown) (direction yin figure).

Electrode connecting bodies TCN′ are integrally formed between electrodelinking bodies TJCa′ and TJCb′ so as to extend in the direction x in thefigure, and these electrode connecting bodies TCN′ are provided atintervals P in the direction y in the figure.

Thus, three electrode fixtures TMF (denoted by symbols TMF1′, TMF2′ andTMF3′ starting from the electrode linking body TJCa′ side), for example,are formed at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction of eachelectrode connecting body TCN′. The configuration of these electrodefixtures is shown in FIG. 5B, which is a cross sectional diagram alongline b-b in FIG. 5A. This is the same configuration as in FIG. 1B.

Here, the respective electrode fixtures formed in each electrodeconnecting body TCN′ aligned in the direction y in the figure are insuch a positional relationship that the electrode fixtures TMFcorresponding to the electrode fixtures denoted by the symbol TMF1′, theelectrode fixtures TMF corresponding to the electrode fixtures denotedby the symbol TMF2′ and the electrode fixtures TMF corresponding to theelectrode fixtures denoted by the symbol TMF3′ are respectively alignedin a line in the direction y without shifting in the direction x in thefigure.

As shown in FIG. 5B, the electrode holding portion TN′ and the electrodeinserting portion TI′ in the electrode fixture TMF of the electrodesupports TMS′ are formed by bending a portion of a metal plate that hasbeen punched out.

As described above, the location of the electrode connecting bodies TCN′must be set as in FIG. 5A where the electrode holding portion TN′ andthe electrode inserting portion TI′ of the electrode fixture TMF′ (shownby dotted lines in figure) and the electrode holding portion TN′ and theelectrode inserting portion TI′ of another electrode fixture TMF′ (shownby dotted lines in figure) adjacent to the electrode fixture TMF′ in thedirection y do not interfere with each other. Accordingly, the intervalsbetween adjacent electrode connecting bodies TCN′ are P in this case,and the value of P cannot be reduced any more.

As described above with relation to the electrode supports TMS shown inFIGS. 1A and 1B, even in the case where the intervals between theelectrode connecting bodies TCNa and the electrode connecting bodiesTCNb are not gained as the minimum value B in the electrode support TMSaor the electrode support TMSb, the above described electrode supportTMSa and electrode support TMSb are provided so that the electrodeconnecting bodies TCNa and the electrode connecting bodies TCNbalternate, so that the intervals between the electrode connecting bodies(in this case electrode connecting bodies TCNa and electrode connectingbodies TCNb) can be set to P/2.

Accordingly, a number of external electrode fluorescent lamps EFL can beprovided with small intervals, so that light can be made uniform in aplane parallel to and at a slight distance from the plane including theexternal electrode fluorescent lamps EFL, and the above described liquidcrystal display panel PNL can be provided in the above described planewhere light can be made uniform.

As a result, the liquid crystal display panel PNL and the backlight BL(specifically, the external electrode fluorescent lamps EFL) can beprovided close to each other, and thus, the thickness of the module canbe released.

<Effects of Wide Portions WB>

Next, the effects of the wide portions WBa and WBb which arerespectively formed in the electrode supports TMSa and TMSb as shown inFIGS. 1A and 1B are described.

The side wall plate BWh is secured to the electrode base TMT forproviding the electrode support TMS shown in FIG. 1A so as to cover theelectrode support TMS, as described above.

The surface of this side wall plate BWh has a light reflecting function,and a protruding plate PJB for lightly pressing the above describedelectrode support TMS toward the electrode base TMT is formed on therear surface, as shown in FIG. 6A. This protruding plate PJB is alignedin the longitudinal direction of the side wall plate BWh, with the sideperpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the side wall plate BWh.

Here, FIG. 6A shows the state of the side wall plate BWh placed on theleft of the backlight BL shown in FIG. 4A with the left and rightreversed as seen from the back. The above described protruding plate PJBis in triangular form because the above described side wall plate BWh isinclined, so as to be low at the center of the backlight BL and high onthe outside.

The above described projecting plate PJB is provided between adjacentexternal electrode fluorescent lamps EFL in the case where the side wallplate BWh is attached to the above described electrode base TMT, forexample.

FIG. 6B is a diagram showing the positional relationship of the abovedescribed protruding plate PJB relative to the electrode support TMS onthe electrode base TMT when the above described side wall plate BWh isattached to the above described electrode base TMT, and the abovedescribed protruding plate PJB is shown by dotted lines.

Here, the wide portions WBa and WBb formed on the electrode supportsTMSa and TMSb, respectively, are provided so as to overlap with thedotted line where the protruding plate PJB is provided. That is to say,each of the above described protruding plates PJB can press the wideportion WBa, in addition to the electrode linking body TJCa in theelectrode support TMSa, and in addition, the wide portion WBb can alsobe pressed, in addition to the electrode linking body TJCb in theelectrode support TMSb.

Therefore, each electrode support can make contact with the electrodebase TMT at two points: the electrode linking body and the wide portion,and thus, the disadvantage of the electrode support lifting off from theelectrode base TMT can be avoided, thanks to the wide portion.

Another Embodiment 1

In the above described embodiment, the electrode supports TMSa and theelectrode supports TMSb are provided at a distance from each and do notoverlap on the electrode base TMT.

As shown in FIG. 7, however, the electrode supports TMSb shift towardthe electrode supports TMSa in the direction x in the figure, so thatthe wide portions WBb of the electrode supports TMSb overlap above theelectrode joining bodies TJCa of the above described supports TMSa. Inthis case, the wide portions WBa of the electrode supports TMSa overlapbeneath the electrode joining bodies TJCb of the above describedelectrode supports TMSb.

In this case, the width of the assembly of the above described electrodesupports TMSa and electrode TMSb can be reduced in the direction x inthe figure. As a result, such effects can be gained that the area of theso-called frame portion of the liquid crystal display device (portion inperiphery of display region of display device) can be reduced.

Here, FIG. 7 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 1A, and symbols whichare the same as in FIG. 1A indicate components which are the same.

In addition, in FIG. 7, wide portions WBb of the electrode supports TMSboverlap above the electrode joining bodies TJCa of the electrodesupports TMSa via unwoven cloth (frictional noise reducing material)CLT1 in the longitudinal direction of the electrode joining bodies TJCa.In addition, the electrode joining bodies TJCb of the electrode supportsTMSb overlap above the respective wide portions WBa of the electrodesupports TMSa via unwoven cloth CLT2 which extends over all of the wideportions WBa.

Here, the above described unwoven cloth CLT1 and CLT2 intervene in theportion where the electrode supports TMSa and the electrode supportsTMSB overlap in order to prevent squealing noise when the electrodesupports TMSa and the electrode supports TMSb rub against each other.

Here, though in the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, theelectrode supports TMSa are located beneath the electrode supports TMSb,the invention is not limited to this, and the same effects can be gainedwhen the electrode supports TMSa are located above the electrodesupports TMSb.

Another Embodiment 2

FIG. 8A is a plan diagram showing the electrode support TMS according toanother embodiment. The electrode support TMS according to the presentembodiment is integrated.

In FIG. 8A, The electrode support TMS is provided with three electrodejoining bodies TJCa, TJCb and TJCc, and these electrode joining bodiesTJCa, TJCb and TJCc extend in the longitudinal direction (direction y infigure) of the electrode base TMT (not shown), and are aligned at equalintervals.

A number of electrode connecting bodies TCNa to which metal fixtures TMFare attached are formed between the electrode joining body TJCa and theelectrode joining body TJCb at equal intervals P in the direction y inthe figure. Likewise, a number of electrode connecting bodies TCNb towhich electrode fixtures TMF are attached are formed between theelectrode joining body TJCb and the electrode joining body TJCc at equalintervals P in the direction y in the figure.

In this case, the electrode connecting bodies TJCa formed between theelectrode joining bodies TJCa and the electrode joining bodies TJCb andthe electrode connecting bodies TJCb formed between the electrodejoining bodies TJCb and the electrode joining bodies TJCc shift by ahalf pitch. That is to say, judging from the positional relationshiponly in the direction y in the figure, one of the above describedelectrode connecting bodies TCNb is located between adjacent electrodeconnecting bodies TCNa and one of the above described electrodeconnecting bodies TCNa is located between adjacent electrode connectingbodies TCNb.

The configuration of the respective electrode fixtures TMF formed in theabove described electrode connecting bodies TCNa and TCNb is the same asshown in FIG. 1B.

The thus formed electrode supports TMS have limitations, in that theelectrode connecting bodies TCNa and the electrode connecting bodiesTCNb formed in parallel in the direction Y in the figure must maintainintervals P between adjacent electrode connecting bodies, for example.In direction y in the figure, however, one of the electrode connectingbodies TCNb is located between adjacent electrode connecting bodies TCNaand one of the electrode connecting bodies TCNa is located betweenadjacent electrode connecting bodies TCNb in the configuration, andthus, the electrode connecting bodies made of the electrode connectingbodies TCNa and TCNb substantially become equivalent as provided atintervals P/2 in the direction y in the figure.

The thus formed electrode supports allow the external electrodefluorescent lamps EFL (shown by dotted lines) to be provided as shown inFIG. 8A. That is to say, the external electrode fluorescent lamps EFLsupported by the respective electrode fixtures TMF in the electrodeconnecting bodies TCNa and the external electrode fluorescent lamps EFLsupported by the respective electrode fixtures TMF in the electrodeconnecting bodies TCNb shift in the direction x in the figure.

In this case, the electrode supports on the other end side of theexternal electrode fluorescent lamps EFL are formed to have the sameconfiguration as the electrode supports shown in FIG. 8A, and theexternal electrode fluorescent lamps EFL shift left and right everyother column in the direction x. As a result, it becomes possible to useexternal electrode fluorescent lamps EFL having the same length.

In addition, it is not necessary for the external electrode fluorescentlamps to be arranged as in FIG. 8A, and the external electrodefluorescent lamps EFL may be provided so as not to shift in thedirection x in the figure, as shown in FIG. 8B, for example. In thiscase, modification is possible by making the electrodes of therespective external electrode fluorescent lamps EFL have a lengthcorresponding to the width of the electrode supports TMS from theelectrode joining body TJCa to the electrode joining body TJCc, forexample.

Another Embodiment 3

FIG. 9 is a plan diagram showing the electrode support according toanother embodiment. The electrode support TMS according to the presentinvention is also integrated.

In FIG. 9, the electrode support TMS is provided with a pair ofelectrode joining bodies TJCa and TJCb, and these electrode joiningbodies TJCa and TJCb are aligned in parallel so as to extend in thelongitudinal direction of the electrode base TMT (not shown) (directiony in figure).

A number of electrode connecting bodies TCN to which electrode fixturesTMF are attached are formed at equal intervals in the direction y in thefigure, between the electrode joining body TJCa and the electrodejoining body TJCb.

Three electrode fixtures TMF, for example, are formed in the respectiveelectrode connecting bodies TCN at equal intervals in the longitudinaldirection, and thus, the configuration of the respective electrodefixtures is the same as in FIG. 1B, for example.

In this case, the respective electrode fixtures TMF formed in anelectrode connecting body TCN and the respective electrode fixtures TMFformed in another electrode connecting body TCN adjacent to theelectrode connecting body TCN shift by the width of the electrodefixtures TMF in the direction x. That is to say, even in the case whereall of the electrode fixtures TMF are expanded in a plane, thepositional relationship prevents them from interfering with each other.

Thus, in the case where the configuration in FIG. 9 is formed of onemetal plate, the interval between electrode connecting bodies TCN canallow at least one electrode fixture TMF to be formed.

Accordingly, the interval between the electrode connecting bodies TCNwhich are aligned adjacent to each other can be set to a value P′, whichis smaller than the above described value P (P′<P).

Though in the above described embodiments, three electrode fixtures TMFare formed in the electrode connecting bodies TCN, TCNa and TCNb, theinvention is not limited to this.

The above described embodiments may be used alone or combined for use.This is because the effects of the respective embodiments can be gainedalone or in combination.

1. A liquid crystal display device, comprising a liquid crystal displaypanel and a backlight provided on the rear surface of this liquidcrystal display panel, characterized in that said backlight comprises anumber of rod light sources installed in parallel, and electrodesupports for supporting electrodes of the number of rod light sourcestogether, said electrode supports are provided with a first electrodelinking body, a second electrode linking body and a third electrodelinking body which extend in the direction in which said rod lightsources are aligned and are aligned in parallel, and a number ofelectrode connecting bodies formed so as to be parallel to each other inthe direction of the length of said rod light sources between said firstelectrode linking body and said second electrode body, as well asbetween said second electrode linking body and said third electrodelinking body, each electrode connecting body is formed of a number ofelectrode fixtures for sandwiching an electrode, and electrodeconnecting bodies between said first electrode linking body and saidsecond electrode linking body, as well as electrode connecting bodiesbetween said second electrode linking bodies and said third electrodelinking bodies, alternate in the direction perpendicular to thelongitudinal direction of said rod light sources.
 2. The liquid crystaldisplay device according to claim 1, characterized in that saidelectrode fixtures are formed in parallel to the direction of the lengthof said electrodes, and said electrode connecting bodies are formed sothat each electrode connecting body corresponds to one electrode of saidrod light sources.